One-stop-shots are the best, but they come with recoil. So to balance it, why not have a gun that can unload thirty rounds? No aggressor will take that lightly - if at all.
Anyway, it's an option for those who really just can't stand recoil.
I’d get her a short barreled .357 or .38 revolver. Get one without a hammer. No slide or mag for her to bother with. Just grab it and shoot, really simple like. The .357 has uber stopping power too. FAR more than the .380(or even a 9mm).
Smith & Wesson Model 632 Carry Comp Pro .327 Federal Magnum Revolver
.380 aren’t all that bad. They’ve got pretty much the same caliber as a 9mm, just not as much powder behind it. Range vs shot placement are the two biggest factors there. Chances are if a woman needs it, it’s going to be at point blank range to very short range.
About the Glock though look into a 9mm Springfield XD or some other brand. Your wife’s problem with the Glock recoil may actually be due to the larger grips on a Glock and not really the recoil of the round.
Stay away from the .25, quite possibly the worst round ever made. You’re better off with a pistol that shoots .22lr.
try a compact Smith&Wesson MP9...has the ability to change the grip size which might help with some of the recoil issues
I am sure you will get a lot of good advice here on FR, but what is comfortable to shoot for practice or self defense classes is so important. Get some range time BEFORE you buy.
I have only had one incidence of flinching, it was a nightmare. I found it is nearly impossible to hit what I was shooting at with my eyes closed.
One-stop-shots are the best, but they come with recoil. So to balance it, why not have a gun that can unload thirty rounds? No aggressor will take that lightly - if at all.
Anyway, it's an option for those who really just can't stand recoil.
3” barrel .38 revolver.
Lew Horton used to order them up from S&W.
Not always easy to find, but the best compromise between a snub-nose and a too large pistol.
Slightly longer barrel dampens recoil, revolver is SIMPLE to operate and check that it is, or is not, loaded.
Perhaps the “seems intimidated by the recoil” needs a bit more thought. I’d be reluctant to unnecessarily compromise the primary purpose of self-protection. To me, the .45 ACP is the very best defensive round.
For a lightweight carry weapon, consider the Glock 36. It’s one of the lightest (unloaded) firearms on the market. Gotta love the Glock’s point-and-shoot simplicity, reliability, and durability.
For those with small hands, it uses a single-stack magazine. I recommend adding the magazine extender, which gives you a better grip; otherwise, your pinky finger hangs loose. You only get 8 rounds (6+1+1) to carry, BUT you get a very lightweight carry weapon; and, after all, how many rounds are you realistically/probably/likely going to need?
It’s really about trade-offs. Getting used to the recoil may be your best overall choice.
Don’t get a .25, a .22 long rifle has more power than a .25. .380s have enough for defensive use and you can get some good ones. However, the recoil on them is more than one would think but not as severe as a 9MM.
The question will be whether she can operate the slide or not. Some women don't have the grip strength for small frame automatics. I have seen some women that can't pull the trigger on DA/SA autos in the double action mode.
If she learns to handle the 9mm, I recommend a Glock 26 with a proper holster. Small, simple, high capacity. With the right ammo you can do a lot of damage.
If we are talking concealed then I want a nice silver plated snub nose .38 that I can jab into someones ribs because I don’t like to miss.
If you watch the movie Police Academy, the character Tackleberry might have a couple of suggestions for you.
You’ll get endless suggestions on this topic here at FR, as the topic always does. I suggest one thing only: the gun you have with you is better than the gun that’s left at home.
Basically, that means that the gun you’re comfortable carrying, though of smaller caliber, is better than the stopper you’ve left at home because it’s too heavy, too bulky, too unwieldy, or kicks like a mule.
Personally, I like the Walther PPK for its time-tested reliability and security (safety blocks the firing pin); however, the SIG-Sauer is probably just as good, if a bit more expensive, and the Beretta is othing to sneer at.
Then, again, most people will tell you that if you don’t practice regularly, a revolver is best; the Smith and Wesson Chief’s Special is just fine in that regard, and, yes, it is used by a good many Chiefs of Police.
Take her to a range where they rent different guns to try. Pick a couple S&W small J frame revolvers (Model 60LS), single action and double action, but the hammerless double action only trigger pull may be too stiff for her.
Look at the Bersa Thunder 380 conceal carry while you’re trying out suggestions.
S&W Model 60LS can shoot both 38 and 357. She can start out with the lighter 38 loads and work up from there at her own level.
I’ve found that the key to being able to handle recoil is the grip. Get something that your wife can hold securely and comfortably and most of the recoil issues will go away. I would also recommend a hammerless revolver, .38 cal, 2” barrel. A couple of manufacturers now are offering ported barrels and that helps a lot, too, especially if you move up to .357. And I agree with everyone who says stay away from a .25 auto.
Husbands buying guns with/for wives can be (I said can be, not will be, or are) difficult. Hubby's 'suggestions' are sometimes colored by what he would carry, wife's preferences are sometimes shaped by wanting hubby to be happy with her choice of the 'right' gun.
If your wife is having problems with the recoil of a Glock 9mm, then it's entirely the wrong time to buy a pistol for her to carry, unless there's a reason to make it happen now.
In that case, I'd go with the revolver suggestion -- basic, easy to operate in ALL functions (sometimes people who do not have strong hands have difficulty cycling the slide of an automatic).
Anyone who carries is far better off with a weapon with which they are completely independent -- not relying on assistance to load, or to make ready, or to holster, or to unload, or to chamber check, etc.
Likewise, it needs to be a weapon which does not induce that moment's hesitation before pulling the trigger, as the shooter anticipates recoil.
I'd rather have my wife carry a .22 revolver she was comfortable and proficient with, than a .45 she was hesitant to pick up.
In the event of actually having to draw it, a calm person with a pistol is a lot more likely to regain control of the situation than someone shaking and waving a gun all over the place.
